Milinko Pantic Smiljanic

Milinko Pantic: From the corner flag to the history books

A bunch of red and white carnations by the corner flag on the pitch at the Wanda Metropolitano is a memorial to Milinko 'Sole' Pantic's time as a player in LaLiga Santander.

The Serbian, who donned the red and white after arriving from Panionios in Greece, played three seasons at Atletico. He made a name for himself as a set-piece specialist, and was a fundamental figure in the Atletico team that won 'the double' (Liga Santander and Copa del Rey) in the 1995/1996 season.

His 11 goals and 14 assists in his first season with the "Colchoneros" contributed to a historic year, when 'Sole' scored the extra-time goal that helped Radomir Antic's side defeat FC Barcelona in the Copa Del Rey final at La Romareda.